Premier League Darts Night 15 Picks 2026 (Thursday 14th May)

We are into the penultimate week of the Premier League season and Finals night is looming large for the players still hoping to be involved.

Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton have tied up two positions, while Josh Rock is eliminated and Stephen Bunting could join him at the end of this Night 15 in Birmingham.

It is the middle of the table that is creating the drama and just 5 points separates Gerwyn Price in 3rd place and Gian van Veen in 6th.

Another run to a Nightly Final pushed Luke Humphries into 4th place, but the defending Champion will regret yet another 6-5 defeat to Luke Littler that prevented him moving into the driving seat for Qualification behind the top two. Momentum is with Humphries and he will be looking to add at least another two points this week before Night 16 when he is going to be facing one of his main rivals for a spot at the O2 in the Quarter Finals in Sheffield.

At one stage it felt like Gerwyn Price was going to coast into the Play Offs, but he has lost some momentum and has admitted that he is not playing at full health right now- it has seen him withdraw from recent Players Championship and European Tour events, although the World Cup of Darts withdrawal is apparently not down to poor health as the PDC stated and that according to Price himself.

Two Dutchman make up the foursome pushing for the final two places and Michael van Gerwen won a big title earlier this week and looks to have more going on for him compared with Gian van Veen.

Of course hings can change very quickly in the Premier League and two big Nights remain for the players involved in all of the drama.

Josh Rock to win v Gian van Veen: The Premier League run is over, but Josh Rock will blame his early form for his troubles and the Northern Irishman is still playing at a really good level.

Picking up the European Tour 6 title last weekend backs up the statement and Rock is going to be very dangerous for Play Off chasing Gian van Veen.

All of the pressure is on the latter, but over the last two months, Gian van Veen's level has not been near to what he had been producing at the back end of 2025 and into early 2026. This has led to a number of early defeats and the Dutchman looks vulnerable in the opening Quarter Final on Night 15 of the Premier League.

Those chasing bigger prices may think about Josh Rock to complete the match double of winning with most maximums- in the Premier League he has only one fewer maximum compared with Gian van Veen and that despite playing a lot fewer matches.

However, just simply backing Rock to win at odds against looks the call.

Michael van Gerwen to win v Gerwyn Price: One Dutchman could find himself on the brink of elimination earlier in the night, but Michael van Gerwen could put himself in a really strong position in the 'weaker' side of the bracket on Night 15.

He was in devastating form earlier this week in winning Players Championship 15 and Michael van Gerwen has found a consistency that has been lacking in recent Gerwyn Price performances.

The Welshman has admitted that he is playing through a few health problems and that has meant The Ice Man has not taken part in recent Players Championship or European Tour events. It has also led to early losses in the Premier League and that has allowed three players to pull in close to 3rd place Price and put him under some pressure.

Gerwyn Price has won the last three matches against Michael van Gerwen, including twice in the Premier League, but the latter has rediscovered some of the early season form and can come through as the narrow underdog.

Luke Humphries to win & most 180s v Stephen Bunting: Not many would have predicted Luke Humphries would be entering Night 15 of the Premier League without a Nightly win, but he has found a way to reach the Final in each of the last two weeks.

Of course the defending Champion will be frustrated he has lost the last two Nightly Finals by the same 6-5 scoreline to Luke Littler, but the points have pushed Luke Humphries back into the top four of the Premier League standings.

He still has work to do in order to Qualify for the Play Offs later this month, but Humphries has momentum and he did narrowly beat Stephen Bunting last week.

Credit has to be given to Stephen Bunting for offering as much resistance as he did in that Semi Final in Leeds, but the defeat likely ends his hopes of playing at the O2 Arena in London.

Two solid Players Championship efforts earlier this week will have given Stephen Bunting a boost and he can be dangerous when finding his rhythm around the treble 20 bed. That was the case in the Semi Final last week when hitting two more maximums than Luke Humphries, but overall it is the latter who has had the edge in that market and he can reverse those maximum numbers in another winning effort against this rival.

Luke Littler to win & most 180s v Jonny Clayton: There has been little wrong with Jonny Clayton's Premier League performance nor the manner in which he has produced some power scoring, but Luke Littler has won the last three Premier League Nights and is motoring towards top spot.

A win on Thursday will effectively secure him the position before Night 16 and Luke Littler should be well rested as he looks to make it ten Premier League wins in a row.

Jonny Clayton reached the Players Championship 16 Final on Tuesday and he has been playing at a really good level all season.

He loves the Premier League, but it is Littler who has ended his run in two of the last three Nights and the World Number 1 wants to continue sticking it to his main rivals. This will pay dividends in the big Ranking tournaments to be played in the second half of the season and Littler can complete the match double in the last Quarter Final of the night.

MY PICKS: Josh Rock to Win @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Michael van Gerwen @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Most 180s @ 2.62 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Most 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 63-93, - 18.16 Units (153 Units Staked, - 11.87% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2019 (June 17th)

The first week on the grass courts was not a great one for the Tennis Picks, but at one stage it was looking a lot worse than it ended up being.

As I have mentioned at the time, the small sample of grass court statistics to back up the selections does make things a little more difficult to read, but that is something I am trying to factor into the Picks from this time of the season. There isn't a lot of time to get into rhythm on a grass court where matches can be won and lost very quickly, which is always a concern when you make any Picks, and it doesn't take a lot of breaks of serves to secure sets.

That is factored into some of the spreads that we will see over the next couple of weeks and it is something to consider.


This week we have the biggest events that are played before Wimbledon on the surface, but it looks like another potentially wet week all around. The usually warm June weather we expect to see in Europe has not materialised as most would have been hoping for and I do think there will be some delays in the days ahead.

In Halle those look like they will be coming later in the week, but in London and Birmingham we could see the early part of the tournament being affected by the weather. It will mean some players will be asked to play twice in a single day to maintain their push through the draw, which can be highly frustrating, but the hope is that better weather is to come by the time Wimbledon rolls around.


Monday does tend to be one of the slow burners at the start of the week in a new tournament, but there are quite a few First Round matches that have been scheduled with Qualifiers completed on Sunday. Below you can see my selections for the day as well as the updated season totals after a poor week for the Tennis Picks.


Steve Johnson v Philipp Kohlschreiber: The tournament being played in Halle comes in a week where a number of the bigger names on the Tour will be looking to get some competitive grass court tennis underneath their legs. Roger Federer is the top Seed in Halle, but it is a competitive draw and the chance for some really important Ranking points to be earned if putting a strong run together.

Both Steve Johnson and Philipp Kohlschreiber have to believe they are capable of performing effectively enough on the grass to have a chance of doing that. The winner is likely going to face Alexander Zverev in the Second Round, but that match looks as winnable as it can with the German being out of consistent form, and both Johnson and Kohlschreiber will have a lot of belief if they can get out of this match.

Neither had the week they would have liked in Stuttgart last week with an opening loss so there is some pressure for them to have a stronger week in Halle where there are more Ranking points available. I have to say I am a touch surprised with the prices and I do think the wrong player is being favoured in this First Round match, although it could be the factor of Kohlschreiber playing at home which is perhaps seeing him edge favouritism.

In their previous meeting on the grass it was Kohlscreiber who won too, but that was back in June 2017 and there has been some improvement in the Johnson game since then. Both players will be very keen to get plenty of first serves in play which will set them up to run through those games effectively, but it is Johnson who looks to be showing the superior returning that can make the difference in this one.

Returning serve on the grass has been ineffective from Kohlschreiber who won just 29% of points against the Miomir Kecmanovic serve last week. In 2017 the German broke in only 12% of return games and in 2018 that number slipped to 11%, while there has been a clear decline in Kohlschreiber's performances on that side of his game.

Over the last twelve months Johnson has broken in 21% of return games played on the grass and he was successful getting into the Gael Monfils service games last week. It won't be easy against the Kohlschreiber serve, but Johnson should have the slight edge when it comes to the return of serve and I think that makes the underdog an appealing player to back in this First Round match.


Gael Monfils - 2.5 games v Pierre-Hugues Herbert: Last week was a little disappointing for Gael Monfils in his Second Round defeat in Stuttgart, but the Frenchman is someone who is capable of playing on the grass courts. He will be expecting a lot better from himself when the Tour moves to Halle, although Monfils could have perhaps been hoping for a better First Round draw than facing compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

You would think Herbert's style would be well suited to the grass with his ambitions of getting to the net and being able to employ serve-volley tactics, but it hasn't really happened for him on the Singles court just yet. He was also beaten in the Second Round last week in his first grass court action of the 2019 season and Herbert needs to find a way to get a little more out of the serve.

In 2017 Herbert was holding just shy of 80% of the service games he played on the grass, but that number slipped a little bit in 2018 and he was broken too many times last week in Hertogenbosch. Breaks of serve on the grass courts should be a rarity if you are on top of your game, but Herbert was broken at least twice in each match played and that puts pressure on what is a limited returning game.

The two matches last week is a very limited sample as Herbert actually had some success on the return, but in the last couple of years it has not been a strength for him on the grass. I do think he could have some joy if Gael Monfils is not able to improve his own standards from what he showed in Stuttgart, but the higher Ranked Frenchman has also shown he can get his teeth in return games and I do think he can make enough balls back in play to put Herbert under pressure.

Last week might have just been a poor week for Monfils whose serve has been much more effective on the grass in 2017 and 2018. I think he should have more chances of getting through those games against an opponent like Herbert and Monfils' return should prove to be a decisive factor in being able to help him through to the Second Round with a good looking win on the board.


Robin Haase-Alexander Zverev over 21.5 games: The final match on the opening Monday in Halle sees the German Number 1 take to the court as Alexander Zverev tries to get his season turned back around. It has been a difficult couple of months for Zverev who has struggled with the kind of consistency we would have come to expect from him.

A defeat to Dustin Brown in Stuttgart last week is not a good look for Zverev as he is just having a difficult moment when the critical point in matches has been reached. He couldn't take the break points that he was creating in that match, but the serve has been a shot that has yet to really push on and give Zverev the chance to keep opponents off of him too.

Alexander Zverev has got plenty out of his serve on the grass courts in the last couple of years, but I would be concerned with the amount of break points Brown was able to earn last week. In this First Round match in Halle Zverev is taking on a limited returner in Robin Haase too which is why he is such a big favourite to progress to the Second Round, but Haase can't be coming into the match without any belief.

The Dutchman is a former title winner on the grass courts and he is someone who has given Zverev plenty to think about in previous matches between these two. In the last eighteen months Haase has won two of the three matches between himself and Zverev, and he has had enough joy in the return of serve to think he has a chance in this match.

Those previous matches have largely been competitive affairs too and I do think Zverev's current form is going to mean he is needing to dig deep to win the match. I would be a touch concerned with the relatively poor service numbers that Robin Haase has produced on the grass courts in recent years, but he is someone who can play very well on the surface when finding his best form and I can see both players being in a position to win the sets.

With every chance of seeing three sets I am going to look for the total games line to be surpassed. Even a competitive straight sets win for either player should see this number of games covered on a grass court and that is going to be my selection from this match.

MY PICKS: Steve Johnson @ 2.37 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Gael Monfils - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Robin Haase-Alexander Zverev Over 21.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Joao Sousa @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Fernando Verdasco + 3.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (2 Units)
Marin Cilic - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Elina Svitolina - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Johanna Konta - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Season 2019: + 70.87 Units (1002 Units Staked, + 7.07% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (June 21st)

The Tennis tournaments this week are a little easier to prepare in the middle of the week as far as Tennis Picks are concerned with the Second Round split over two days.

That usually means the markets are out considerably earlier than they would be normally and I have got my Picks prepared before the results from the Wednesday Picks are completed.


Lesia Tsurenko + 2.5 games v Daria Kasatkina: I guess you would have to make Daria Kasatakina favourite for this match because of her overall performances this season, but I have to say the prices don't factor in the poorer record she has on the grass.

Her win in the First Round will have given Kasatkina some confidence, but this is clearly still a learning curve for her and I do think someone like Lesia Tsurenko is comfortable enough on the surface to give the young Russian something to think about.

My concern with backing a small underdog on the WTA Tour is that you can see sets run away from them and then even a deciding set loss is not enough to get within the number. Someone who returns as well as Kasatkina makes me a little more wary when it comes to this pick, but I think Tsurenko should be able to have some joy on the return herself to keep this one close.

I also believe Tsurenko has every chance to win this match outright which makes backing her on the handicap a little more comfortable for me. Tsurenko is a decent grass court player without being a world beater on the surface and I do think she will be able to have her moments in this one which makes the underdog more appealing.

Having the safety of the games behind me when I believe she is capable of winning the match outright helps me get behind Tsurenko in this one as Kasatkina continues to prove to herself that she can play on this surface.


Julien Benneteau v Adrian Mannarino: This is expected to the final season on the Tour as a Singles player for Julien Benneteau but he is making the best of the situation with a strong run here at Queens Club. The Frenchman came through the Qualifiers to reach the main draw and Benneteau had a strong win over Tomas Berdych which will give him confidence as he gets set to face compatriot Adrian Mannarino in the Second Round.

Benneteau has always enjoyed playing on the grass and he has been in good form so far this week although I do wonder if he is playing above the level expected.

In 2017 Benneteau really struggled when it came to holding his serve, but he has been strong on that front in the three matches played to get into the main draw at Queens. However where Benneteau continues to pose a threat is off the return of serve and he will feel he can get the better of Adrian Mannarino despite the grass court pedigree the latter has displayed.

In recent seasons Mannarino has had some strong hold/break percentages on the grass courts although he has had a mixed start to 2018. A loss to Jeremy Chardy and a win over Daniel Evans is not bad form although I do worry about the head to head with the feeling it matters a lot when it comes to matches between French players.

Both players could find themselves under pressure when it comes to the service games and I would not be surprised if we see a number of breaks of serve even in the faster conditions in this part of West London. However I think it is Julien Benneteau playing the slightly better tennis at the moment and the head to head with Mannarino may be enough to make the difference at key moments of the match.

There will be some twists and turns along the way, but I like Julien Benneteau in what is almost a pick 'em contest.


Novak Djokovic - 2.5 games v Grigor Dimitrov: There are signs that Novak Djokovic is getting somewhere near to his best, but I think there is still some way to go for the former World Number 1 to really have the belief in his own game. You got a sense of that when going out of the French Open in disappointing circumstances and immediately questioning whether he will play at Wimbledon in July.

Taking a Wild Card into Queens is a good sign for Djokovic, but in reality he is still very much searching to get comfortable on the court. His numbers have been decent enough throughout 2018, but the aura around him has gone and that means players are less likely to capitulate at his feet if they fall behind in a set.

Novak Djokovic was a dominant winner in the First Round here over John Millman, but the level of competition goes up drastically when going up against Grigor Dimitrov in the Second Round. Dimitrov is a former Wimbledon Semi Finalist and very comfortable on the grass courts, although I am not sure the Bulgarian is feeling his best tennis right now.

Playing someone like Djokovic on this surface should get the adrenaline pumping for Dimitrov but he was struggling for his best in the First Round and really needs to step up his play. An area of concern for Dimitrov fans is the decline in the service numbers on the grass courts in four consecutive years and now coming up a returner as strong as Novak Djokovic can be is going to put the higher Ranked player under some pressure.

Dimitrov should enjoy some success on the return of serve though, even if he is not the best returner on the Tour. That is mainly down to Djokovic still not having full faith in that shot after the wrist issues of twelve months ago, but generally the Serb has been a strong server on the grass courts and even his 80% hold percentage in 2018 is not to be sniffed at.

I think Djokovic has the edge in this match and the head to head only adds to that. While I expect the former World Number 1 to go through some challenging moments in the match, I think Djokovic will have the majority of the break point chances and I will look for Djokovic to win and cover in this big Second Round match.


Matthew Ebden-Philipp Kohlschreiber over 22.5 games: Two players who are very comfortable on the grass courts will meet in the Second Round in Halle and it has all the makings of a match that may need to go the distance to settle it. Philipp Kohlschreiber has not been putting the wins together he would have liked and he won't have nearly the same kind of confidence as Matthew Ebden.

Ebden has reached back to back Semi Finals on the grass courts and that has earned him a Special Entry into the main draw in Halle. He has deserved that, but it also has to be noted that very rarely has Ebden played someone with the quality that Kohlschreiber brings to the court, while he will also have to deal with the spectators who will want the home player to win.

Where Ebden can be confident is the way he has been serving and the 91% hold rate from eleven matches played on the grass over the last couple of weeks has to be respected. The opposition may not have been the best in that run, but Ebden will believe in his serve and he is facing an opponent here who is not exactly the greatest returner on this surface.

You can see that from Kohlschreiber's numbers on the return of serve, but he himself is possessed with a solid serve on the grass courts and I think it will be a challenge for Ebden facing it. Last week Ebden did break the Gilles Muller serve at will on the grass which is a huge achievement, but Kohlschreiber may have a little more all around game which can help him maintain his own strong numbers on the serve.

This has the feeling of a match where one or two breaks of serve will decide it but I won't be surprised to see at least one tie-breaker in this one. With the chances of this one going into a deciding set too I do think the total games can be surpassed although a straight sets win could be a concern if one of these players is not serving as well as expected.

I did also think Matthew Ebden is a big price to win the match considering how well he has been playing and especially returning on the grass courts, but it should be a close match and I will look at the total games line.


Roger Federer - 4.5 games v Benoit Paire: Whenever you see a spread of this size you have to be a little careful and that is especially so on the grass courts where breaks of serve are not obtained easily.

For all the obvious greatness of Roger Federer, who won yet another grass court title last week in Stuttgart, sometimes you can question the return of serve and whether it will be effective enough to cover this kind of number. In his five wins on grass Federer has broken at just 18% so far this season and his 2017 number of 43.5% is clearly an out-marker compared to his general numbers which have been much more similar to where he is this season.

It will be interesting to see how he copes against Benoit Paire who has had some solid grass court results over the last thirteen months compared to his general feel on this surface. His hold percentage has been markedly improved and that has allowed Paire to free himself up when it comes to the return of serve and the main reason the wins have been put together on this surface.

In usual circumstances I would not hesitate to move on from this match, but Paire has had some issues with Federer in their previous meetings and rarely been competitive. That has to be in his head against an opponent who is the best grass court player in the world at this time and I do think it will give Federer a chance to produce the break points needed to cover this number.

The head to head is 5-0 in favour of Federer and in eleven sets played the Swiss player has only given up four or more games three times. He hasn't dominated Paire completely on the numbers, but Federer fashions his break points and tends to take them against this opponent which may have as much to do with the Frenchman's emotional state at those pressurised moments which can be questioned.

That may be the case when they play in Halle and I think Federer has been serving well enough to have three more breaks of serve than Paire which should be good enough to cover this number.

MY PICKS: Lesia Tsurenko + 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Julien Benneteau @ 1.80 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Novak Djokovic - 2.5 Games @ 1.72 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Matthew Ebden-Philipp Kohlschreiber Over 22.5 Games @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 12-7, + 7.58 Units (38 Units Staked, + 19.95% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (June 20th)

It was a mixed set of results on Tuesday for the Tennis Picks but it wasn't a completely unimportant day as we are always building data which can help going forward.

What I have realised is I am very unlikely to back Nick Kyrgios or Tomas Berdych again this season.

One player is too emotional for me and you simply don't know how he is going to feel from day to day, while the other is on a decline which is getting more and more rapid. I like Kyrgios but I have long found him a tough player to trust, especially as a favourite, while Berdych's return game has slipped considerably.

I was disappointed with the returns on Tuesday, but at least this week is still in a profitable position and I am looking to add to that on Wednesday. The selections look quite difficult to find on Wednesday as we move into the Second Round at the events being played this week, but I do have a number which can be read below.


Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 games v Robin Haase: The First Round win over Joao Sousa was a lot harder work for Robin Haase than it perhaps should have been but it was another strong result on the grass courts for the Dutchman. The serve is an effective weapon for Haase and that is his best chance of putting Roberto Bautista Agut under pressure.

Over the last few years Haase has really been tough to break on the grass courts and he has continued that form so far in 2018. He has held serve at 85% or better in four of the last five seasons on the grass courts with 2016 being an exception as that number dropped down to 76%, but the consistency suggests he gets enough pop out of the serve which makes it tough for opponents to get into those games.

The main reason Haase has not produced as many wins as he would have liked is a limited return game and that was almost his downfall against Sousa in the First Round. It was the reason he was beaten in three tight sets by Roberto Bautista Agut earlier this season on the hard courts, although I am backing the Spaniard to win a little more comfortably in this Second Round match.

Bautista Agut may not have the same percentage of holds as Haase on this surface because he simply does not have as big a serve, but he has been very good on that side of his game. The edge goes to Bautista Agut when it comes to returning effectively enough and that helped him crush Jan-Lennard Struff in the First Round after coming through some difficult moments in the first set.

The return has helped his combined hold/break percentage reach at least 100% in the last four seasons and I think Bautista Agut will get the better of Haase in this one. I like the way the latter has played on the grass courts but I think Bautista Agut will put him under more pressure on Haase's own serve and that can see him break him down over the course of this match and cover the number.


Kei Nishikori - 1.5 games v Karen Khachanov: The last couple of years have seen Kei Nishikori's grass court season end with an injury problem both times, but he may be coming into the 2018 campaign as healthy as he has been. Last year's injury came in Halle and it was soon afterwards that Nishikori was out for the rest of the year to recover and there have been signs he is getting back to his best.

Nishikori is perhaps an underrated grass court player simply because he has not racked up the kind of wins he could have done without injury coming in to prevent him doing so. The numbers have remained very good from Nishikori and he was a solid winner in the First Round here which will have given him a chance to get used to the grass underneath the feet.

In 2017 Nishikori was forced to pull out of a match against Karen Khachanov and it is the same opponent standing in his way twelve months later.

There isn't a lot of data on Khachanov on the grass courts having only really begun to play on the surface in 2017, but unlike idol Marat Safin it looks like a surface on which the young Russian will be very comfortable. His win over Mischa Zverev in the First Round has to be given a lot of respect and Khachanov will believe he has the shot making and power to give Nishikori plenty to worry about in this match.

I think that is the case too, but Nishikori's combined hold/break percentage on the grass courts have been very impressive over the years. There is every chance this is going to be a good looking match with both players having their chances, but I think Nishikori's superior return game will prove to be a difference maker at key moments of this match and I do think he is the better grass court player.

At the moment he may be a little underrated on the surface and I will back Nishikori to win and cover the number in a victory.


Stan Wawrinka-Sam Querrey over 24.5 games: The grass courts at Queens Club in West London tend to be some of the faster ones on the ATP Tour and that gives players like Sam Querrey the chance to be very effective on the surface. His overall record on the grass is very good which is not a big surprise considering the serve the American has been blessed with and it will be a key weapon for him in this Second Round match.

Querrey may be 1-5 down in the head to head with Stan Wawrinka, which includes a heavy loss at Queens Club, but it is Querrey who comes in as favourite which says a lot about where Wawrinka is with his comeback from an injury.

Both players defeated lower Ranked British opponents in the First Round and both Wawrinka and Querrey were deserved winners having held serve throughout the match. Both players will understand the opponent they face in the Second Round is likely to get a lot more joy on the return of serve, although I still think serve will be king in this match.

Out of the two players it is Querrey who has shown a little more out of the return on the grass courts in the last couple of years, but Wawrinka is someone who will try and put pressure on Querrey with bunted returns and force the big man to win longer rallies than he is used to.

That has proved to be effective enough in beating Querrey for the majority of their matches against one another, but there are some doubts about the fitness of Wawrinka which can't be ignored. Instead I am looking for a match where both players can put a huge number of holds on the board and I would not be surprised if we needed a third set to decide the winner.

Even a tight two setter has every chance of covering the total games line in this one and I will back the two players to combine for enough games to surpass this line.


Marin Cilic - 3.5 games v Gilles Muller: With the courts traditionally playing pretty fast in this are of West London it automatically feels like a big spread for the Number 1 Seed to cover. Marin Cilic may be very comfortable on the grass courts as a former winner here in Queens and also a former Wimbledon Finalist, but he is going to be tested by Gilles Muller who pushed Cilic the distance both at Queens and at Wimbledon in 2017.

The raw numbers from those matches suggest Muller was perhaps a little fortunate to be able to have gotten so close to beating Cilic in both of those events. Any time a player can force a deciding set they will feel they have a chance to win the match, but Cilic will have been disappointed to have lost either when looking the stronger player both times but allowing one poor service game to make life much tougher than it should have been.

One thing that sticks out the most from their matches on the grass in 2017 is that Cilic won a very strong 43% and 45% of return points in those two matches. That is a pretty incredible return against someone like Gilles Muller who has a big left handed serve that has seen him win at least 71% points behind serve in four of the last five years on the grass courts.

His first match in 2018 saw Muller go down to a surprisingly easy defeat to Matthew Ebden and he did have some issues when it came to the serve that day. Playing against Marin Cilic will be a real challenge for Muller because he has the wingspan to get enough balls back in play and force Muller to hit more volleys than he is perhaps comfortable with.

Cilic is even more dangerous when looking at the stellar numbers produced by the Croatian on the grass courts since 2016. He dominated Fernando Verdasco in the First Round and playing a lefty will have given Cilic some idea of what to expect from Muller although the latter has a bigger first serve than Verdasco.

Last year Muller had an exceptional year when it comes to breaking on the grass courts but generally he is someone who has had issues when it comes to the return. If Cilic serves as he did in the First Round I think he can use the scoreboard pressure to find the two breaks of serve he will need to cover this number and I think he is capable of doing that.

Covering is priced up at odds against and I think Cilic can do that with his returning ability on the grass courts and someone who has had considerable success against the Muller serve.


Naomi Osaka - 4.5 games v Dalila Jakupovic: This is a big number for Naomi Osaka to cover when you think of the limited success she has had on the grass courts in the past. Her opponent Dalila Jakupovic has come through the Qualifiers in Birmingham after having a successful week in Nottingham which makes her a dangerous opponent.

Any player who has come through the Qualifiers in back to back weeks is clearly playing with some confidence and so Jakupovic has to be respected. She has had some good wins on the grass courts with perhaps the biggest coming in the First Round in Birmingham as Jakupovic came from behind to beat Elise Mertens.

However the one defeat came to a quality player in Johanna Konta and I think Jakupovic may be playing an opponent who is much improved on the grass courts.

Osaka reached the Semi Final in Nottingham last week and she had some very dominant wins on the grass courts in the last ten days which will have given her some confidence. The serve has always been a decent weapon for Osaka on this surface, but she is backing that up with some strong returning displays and I think that is going to be the key in helping her overcome this opponent and covering this number.

Jakupovic has some solid numbers behind serve and return, but they are slightly less effective than Osaka's numbers and I think that will show up in this match. It could have a similar feel to the way Jakupovic was beaten by Konta last week in Nottingham and I will back Osaka to cover here.

MY PICKS: Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Kei Nishikori - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Stan Wawrinka-Sam Querrey Over 24.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Marin Cilic - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Naomi Osaka - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 9-6, + 3.98 Units (30 Units Staked, + 13.27% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (June 19th)

After a positive week I didn't want a poor start to this new week and I have been fortunate enough to avoid that.

Monday proved to be a very effective day with the Picks making a strong start and on Tuesday I am looking to keep the momentum going.

This has been a busy evening, notably with England beginning their World Cup campaign, and so I will simply put down my Tuesday Picks below as the First Round is completed across the four tournaments being played.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Tomas Berdych - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Nick Kyrgios - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Lucas Pouille - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Matthew Ebden - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Andreas Seppi - 1.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Maria Sakkari + 3.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Petra Kvitova - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-2, + 5 Units (14 Units Staked, + 35.71% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (June 18th)

After a mixed French Open with some bad selections in the second week of the tournament it was good to get the grass court season off to a strong start last week.

With plenty of winners in the books the season totals have been turned back into a positive position for the year and I am looking to build on that when two big ATP 500 events take place in Halle and Queens Club, while the WTA Tour takes in a big event in Birmingham and Mallorca.

There are a lot of big names out on the courts this past week including the new World Number 1 Roger Federer having won the tournament in Stuttgart on Sunday. However the big story has to be the return of Andy Murray who has almost filled a full year on the Tour with an injury that has taken longer to clear up than it was first expected to.

In Tennis I am not sure your favourite players have to come from the country you are born in and for me it is almost certainly the case that the ones I admire most don't come from Great Britain. However I have a lot respect for Andy Murray who has had a fantastic career and who broke through barriers many felt he would not have been able to do.

We may never see Murray back to his very best and in all honesty I am not sure how many more years he will take to the grind of the Tour.

But it is great to have him back and I hope Murray can go out on his own terms by putting together a couple of really strong years on the Tour.


Andy Murray is expected back on the court on Tuesday, but for now the Tennis Picks will concentrate on the matches scheduled on Monday on what looks a busy day through the four tournaments being played this week. I will have analysis of a few of the matches below and then add the remaining Tennis Picks in the 'MY PICKS' section.


Stan Wawrinka - 1.5 games v Cameron Norrie: The lay off from the Tour was not as long as the one Andy Murray has been through but Stan Wawrinka has struggled to find his best tennis since his own enforced break from playing competitive tennis. He had a brief return in 2018 before a few more weeks off the Tour and the subsequent return has been difficult for a multiple time former Grand Slam Champion.

An early loss in Paris has meant Wawrinka has had a little break from the Tour but at least this time he should have been able to practice and try and rebuild his confidence. It is going to take some time and Wawrinka may not be at his happiest on the grass courts, but I am going to back him to get the better of Cameron Norrie.

I have little doubt the home fans will get behind Norrie, but I also have to accept that this is a player whose background may be British but he has not spent a lot of time in the country. While other British players would have a strong grass court pedigree in terms of experience, Norrie can't say the same and even Wawrinka in his current state of mind should be a little too good for him here.

Last week Norrie was beaten in the Challenger event run in Nottingham and that has dropped him to 2-6 on the grass courts in the last thirteen months. The learning curve on the grass courts can be a tough one and an in-form Wawrinka would have been a strong favourite to beat him.

You can't ignore the doubts about Wawrinka's fitness going into the match, but playing matches is the best thing for the former top five Ranked player. Wawrinka can be very effective behind serve on the grass courts and I think he can put Norrie under some pressure with power off the ground that Wawrinka can generate.

Norrie is still learning to get the best out of his serve on the grass and I think Wawrinka is going to prove to be a little too good for him on the day.


Jared Donaldson v Francis Tiafoe: This is a very close match to predict with neither Jared Donaldson or Francis Tiafoe in great form or comfortable on the grass courts, but I did think it was Donaldson who deserved to be the favourite to win the match.

He has certainly shown a little more than his compatriot on the grass courts and so I would have had Donaldson a number of ticks shorter in the prices than you can find in this one.

In saying that Donaldson is not exactly someone you can trust fully to produce his best when he can struggle to hold his serve, but the run at the French Open has to have given him some confidence to take into the grass court season.

And where the difference can be made is through Donaldson's return game which looks to be superior to Francis Tiafoe's on the grass courts. Tiafoe has limited experience on this surface and it may be seen as a time of the season to get through as quickly as possible before both players will feel much happier about North American hard court tournaments in the build to the US Open.

Tiafoe could be comfortable facing Donaldson, which would help, but his numbers are weaker on the grass courts compared to his overall record over the last twelve months. I am not sure he will turn that around and backing Donaldson here has to be right play at the prices being offered.


Sam Querrey - 4.5 games v Jay Clarke: Coming off the clay courts and onto the grass courts is a blessing for someone like Sam Querrey who has consistently produced strong results on this surface. It is no surprise when you consider the huge weapon of a serve he possesses and the former Queens Club Champion is rightly a big favourite against the promising Jay Clarke.

Clarke is still only 19 years old and he has been granted a Wild Card into the main draw at Queens Club this week but he is yet to show the consistency to really expect any kind of upset here. In fact I think it would be a real surprise if Clarke was to even win a set against Querrey on Monday especially when you think he has already lost both grass court matches he has played this season.

The numbers don't make for great reading in those two losses, but the bigger concern for someone like Clarke is the limited success he has had on the return of serve. That is unlikely to have changed much after facing someone like Querrey and Clarke's only real hope is the first match back on the grass courts means the American is perhaps a little undercooked for this First Round encounter.

It has to be said that Querrey did not serve as well as he would have wanted on the grass courts last season, but it is still a huge strength of his game and I am not sure Clarke will even earn a break point in this one. What is more interesting is whether Querrey can return anywhere like as effectively as he did last year on a surface where you would think his limited return game would not have a lot of success.

If he does then Querrey is going to have a big chance to breeze through this match, but I have a feeling his numbers will definitely slip back to the normal levels. However this is not an opponent who should cause too many problems for Querrey and Clarke will have to play a lot higher than his usual level to stay in this match.

Ultimately I am not sure he does that having lost to two players far below the level that Querrey can produce and I think the American breaks down the young British player and covers what does look a big number on paper.


Robin Haase - 2.5 games v Joao Sousa: The last couple of times Robin Haase and Joao Sousa have met on the Tour have ended in wins for the Portuguese player, but the match on the grass courts in the First Round in Halle should favour Haase.

Neither player has a deep grass court pedigree which makes it tough to pick the winner, but Haase has had a couple of matches on the surface and generally plays better than Sousa does on this surface.

Since June 2017 Haase has produced some very strong serving numbers on the grass courts and that has to give him a chance to put some scoreboard pressure on Sousa. With an 88% hold percentage in those grass court matches Haase will feel he can make it very difficult for Sousa to break him especially with the way the latter has been returning on the grass courts in recent years.

One of the main reasons Haase has not been able to produce more wins is down to his own limited return game, but you do have to think he can have more joy against a vulnerable looking Sousa serve. You do have to give Sousa some credit for some strong numbers on the grass courts behind the serve, but there will be moments when he can put a few too many errors together and that should mean Haase has his chances to break the serve here.

The recent head to head has to be a concern but I think the surface is going to send the edge to Haase in the First Round match scheduled for Monday. Sousa has not bettered a combined 94% hold/break percentage over the last three years on the grass courts and that is a huge part of my selection which favours Haase who has played well without the results following on the grass.


Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 games v Jan-Lennard Struff: It was a difficult time for Roberto Bautista Agut who took to the courts in Paris just days after the passing of his mother in unexpected circumstances. You could see the emotion the Spaniard was playing with and he has had a couple of weeks to really come to terms with the loss of a parent.

This is a difficult moment for anyone in any walk of life but for athletes it is something that is played out on a worldwide platform as you have to perform in front of the paying public while dealing with a very private issue.

That is the case for Bautista Agut on his return to the Tour after the French Open but he seems to be a level headed player and I am backing him with the belief that he will be able to produce something like his best tennis. Bautista Agut has admitted he gets away from his real life when on the tennis court and his record on the grass courts suggests he can beat the home player Jan-Lennard Struff.

Bautista Agut did not have the best 2016 on the grass courts, but generally he has been very comfortable on the grass with some strong hold/break combined percentages in his matches. In 2018 Bautista Agut was back to the decent returning which makes him a tough out for anyone and I certainly think he is better on the grass than someone like Struff who was upset in the First Round in Stuttgart last week.

The defeat last week means Struff is just 3-13 on the grass courts since June 2014 and the main reason for that is the poor returning numbers he has produced. The German is still getting decent effort from the serve, but he has struggled with the combined hold/break percentage thanks to some subpar returning.

The Spaniard has won both previous matches between these two very comfortably and I think Bautista Agut's stronger grass court pedigree gets him through the First Round.


Denis Kudla - 2.5 games v Lukas Lacko: This is a rematch of a grass court match that took place in Surbiton a couple of weeks ago and I think Denis Kudla can frank that win against Lukas Lacko.

It was a dominant win the American produced against Lacko and his grass court numbers in 2018 have been very impressive as Kudla has racked up the wins.

The majority of the wins earned by Kudla have either come at the Challenger level or in the Qualifiers for the main ATP events. That is something to consider whenever Kudla plays the better opponents on the Tour, but Lacko is someone who is also very much on the same kind of level as the opponents Kudla has been beating.

Lacko has produced some strong numbers himself which makes him a dangerous opponent for Kudla, but the return game is a real weakness and that could be the difference on the day. The American has held 93% of service games on the grass courts in 2018 and that kind of success will put Lacko under some immense pressure which saw him collapse in their match in Surbiton.

I fully expect this match to be much closer than that one was, but I also like Kudla to frank his win with another one here and I think he can do enough to cover this number.

MY PICKS: Stan Wawrinka - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Jared Donaldson @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Sam Querrey - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Robin Haase - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (2 Units)
Roberto Bautista Agut - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Denis Kudla - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Kristina Mladenovic @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Season 2018 Update: + 12.72 Units (891 Units Staked, + 1.43% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2017 (June 22nd)

Wednesday was the worst day for the tennis picks for some time and definitely the worst I felt I've had since taking a break between the middle of the Indian Wells tournament and the start of the clay court season.

It can be the way things go on the grass over these best of three set matches as a couple of errors can see sets go by the wayside, while recovering breaks is that much more difficult.

Last week wasn't a bad one though so I am not going to use the grass as an excuse for this week, although I am hoping some of the bigger names can be a little more convincing now they've had at least one match under their feet on the surface.

The four tournaments being played this week will move onto the remaining Second Round matches on Thursday and my picks are below. A heads up though, I am not sure I will have a full thread for Friday's matches but will just place my picks without the breakdown as I am out on Thursday night and may not have the time for the usual breakdown.

The picks will be out for Friday's matches with plenty of time before the first match is due to get underway, although you may want to check in on Friday morning United Kingdom time for those to have been updated.


Kei Nishikori - 3.5 games v Karen Khachanov: There is so much to like about Karen Khachanov's game with elements of Marat Safin in the way he approaches his tennis. However, Safin was someone who couldn't really get to grips with the grass until the latter part of his career and I do wonder if Khachanov understands the movement he needs on this surface.

There is only limited data of Khachanov on this surface and I wouldn't read too much into the win over Gilles Simon who looks to be regressing as a top player at a rapid rate.

Facing Kei Nishikori is a big test for Khachanov even if I think the Russian has all of the tools to be successful on this surface. The big first serve and heavy forehand should create easy points for Khachanov, while I think he is capable of getting to the net to force players to make tough passes against him and that all bodes well for him.

Nishikori has had some inconsistent results on the grass, although his game seems to work well on most surfaces. He can get more out of his own serve on this surface and Nishikori has actually produced some solid tennis on the grass with only injuries curtailing runs in different tournaments last year.

I think he will be able to make enough returns to challenge Khachanov in this one and he can use that to break down the youngster who is still finding the consistency to make a really big impact on the Tour. Khachanov is one for the future, but I think he goes down to a 7-6, 6-3 loss in this one.


Florian Mayer + 2.5 games v Lucas Pouille: I have to give Lucas Pouille some credit after winning the title in Stuttgart and fighting back from a set down to beat Jan-Lennard Struff here this week in Halle. The Frenchman has now had five wins on the grass courts in 2017 and four times he has needed to go into a deciding set to get the job done, while Pouille has come from a set down three times.

He is also winning matches when the statistics suggest he should be losing them and I have to credit the heart and determination Pouille is playing with. However, at some point that is going to catch up with him, and I think Florian Mayer can be backed in this one with a feeling he can earn the upset.

The defending Champion has not been in great form though and so it makes more sense backing him with the games on offer in case this is yet another Pouille match that goes the distance. He might have won five matches over the last ten days or so, but Pouille would have only covered this number once and Mayer played well enough against Jeremy Chardy last week to think he can keep this one competitive at the venue where he picked up the title twelve months ago.

Mayer has a very good game for the grass with an under-rated first serve as well as the ability to mix up his shot selection to surprise opponents. His slicing and dicing can be very effective on the grass courts where the ball is kept much lower and Mayer is capable of getting up to the net and put away volleys where necessary.

The lack of wins this season makes it harder to believe in Mayer as a winner in this Second Round match, but I think he is capable of the upset and can certainly make this another competitive three setter for Pouille. At some point all that tennis has to catch up with Pouille too and I will back the home favourite with the games.


Roger Federer - 4.5 games v Mischa Zverev: It was only in 2013 when Roger Federer handed out a double bagel to Mischa Zverev here in Halle, but the latter has produced some very good tennis throughout 2017 to think that is not going to happen again. To be honest it would be a huge shocker if Zverev doesn't better that performance and I am expecting the German to give Federer some problems.

Anyone who can serve as well as Zverev and can continue to push the serve-volley style throughout the match no matter if you pass him is going to be tough to beat on the grass. The lefty serve means Zverev will naturally be inclined to go into the weaker Roger Federer backhand, although that is an improved shot these days.

The predictability of what the German wants to do should mean Federer employs plenty of slice and will not be looking to chip the ball back in play. He has already had an experience of seeing Zverev this year back at the Australian Open and I don't think Federer will be getting too upset with himself if a few return games go past him rapidly.

Federer will wait for his moment to come, and he will get his moments when Zverev misses a couple of first serves and is not able to come into the net as rapidly as he would like. At that point Federer should be able to control rallies and I think he will work out Zverev and slowly wear him down.

It should be a strong serving day for Federer against a limited returner like Zverev and that pressure he should be able to produce on the home favourite should see Federer come through with a 6-4, 6-3 win.


Marin Cilic - 4.5 games v Stefan Kozlov: An impressive come from behind win over a competent grass court player like Steve Johnson after coming through the Qualifiers will have given Stefan Kozlov plenty of confidence. However these results are not exactly in line with his early losses in Surbiton and Hertogenbosch and I think Kozlov will have to produce one of his best matches of his young career to see off Marin Cilic.

The Croatian is one of the better grass court players out there and may feel Wimbledon is a good chance for him to add to his Grand Slam title won at the US Open. Cilic had an impressive win over John Isner already here in Queens and he has one of the more effective returns on the surface which is going to put some real pressure on Kozlov.

That return game is backed up by strong serving statistics and Cilic's serve really does take hold on the grass courts. Cilic has played four grass court matches this year and he has won at least 75% of points behind serve in each of those and Cilic has very strong numbers on the grass courts in recent seasons.

There have been a number of surprises at Queens already but this would need to a be a big one if Cilic is not able see of Kozlov who was somehow broken three times by Ivo Karlovic last week.

Cilic as the winner is not the question, but I do think he is also capable of covering a big game handicap with his superior serving and returning numbers. It can be difficult to create multiple breaks of serve on the grass courts, but I will look for Cilic to do that in a 6-3, 6-4 win.


Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 games v Thanasi Kokkinakis: This is the second week in a row that Daniil Medvedev and Thanasi Kokkinakis are going to meet on a grass court on the Tour and I am looking for the Russian to make it two from two over the Australian.

The focus will be on the performance Kokkinakis produced in beating Milos Raonic, but it wasn't as clear a win as the two sets win would have suggested. He didn't earn a single break point, while saving multiple break points, and it was Raonic who dominated the return statistics.

Now Kokkinakis has to try and ride through the storm against another big hitting opponent in Medvedev having struggled to get much of a look in on the return of serve last week. The returning numbers have not been great from Kokkinakis since coming back from his injury issues which have cost him a lot of time on the Tour and there won't be a lot of time to find a rhythm against someone like Medvedev.

The latter can have his issues on serve with the rest of his game erratic to say the least as he tries to find the consistency to start making a significant move upwards in the World Ranking. Medvedev was broken twice by Ivo Karlovic last week which would be a concern for anyone, but he did serve well in his win over Nicolas Mahut.

I think Medvedev does have the better of the returning numbers of these two players and Kokkinakis may struggle to back up an impressive win over Raonic. I am a big fan of Kokkinakis and the potential he clearly has, but he is still finding his feet back on the Tour and I will look for Medvedev to have a similar kind of win as last week when beating the Australian 6-3, 7-6.


Feliciano Lopez - 2.5 games v Jeremy Chardy: Another rematch from last week comes between Feliciano Lopez and Jeremy Chardy and I am looking for another win for the Spaniard who came through in three sets in Stuttgart. The Lopez serve on the grass is a potent weapon as Stan Wawrinka found out in the First Round in Queens and it gave him the foundation to get past Chardy last week and I expect it can set him up for the win this week too.

The concern about fatigue is a factor as Lopez reached the Final in Stuttgart on Sunday, but having Wednesday off was important for him. You would think he won't mind the heated conditions in London, even if things are going to be slightly cooler on Thursday, and Lopez should get plenty of pop off the first serve.

The same can be said for Chardy who has an underrated serve, but the second serve can sit up and be attacked, while the Frenchman's inconsistency means he is likely to throw in a couple of poor service games. Lopez can certainly force the issue with his chip and charge forcing Chardy to make a number of passes and I do think it will be tough for Chardy to overturn the result last week.

He didn't really get his teeth into the Lopez service games and I think Chardy has made his way through to the Second Round by beating those he would expect to. The win over Jordan Thompson could be overrated after the latter beat Andy Murray in the First Round as the Lucky Loser, but Chardy can't really be relied upon to keep up in a serving match up against Lopez who has been firing.

The Spaniard's last three matches have shown that his serve has been cranking up the pressure on opponents and I think at some stage Chardy will crack in a 7-6, 6-4 win for Lopez.


Camila Giorgi + 3.5 games v Elina Svitolina: It is difficult to trust someone like Camila Giorgi who has struggled for her form in recent months, but who will not take a step back from the big hitting game that she is known for. I'm not sure whether off field issues have affected the Italian from really fulfilling the potential she has, but Giorgi is still a very strong grass court player with the heavy hitting a danger on this surface.

Using Giorgi and the games to oppose Elina Svitolina is dangerous, but I am still not convinced the Ukrainian is at her most comfortable on the grass courts. She had a tougher than expected win over Heather Watson in the First Round and Svitolina has regularly been dragged into these difficult matches on the surface.

The ball skids through much quicker than Svitolina can expect, but she has plenty of big hitting behind her too which makes her a dangerous opponent for anyone. If she gets it mentally, Svitolina could be a real danger to anyone on the surface over the next few weeks, but Giorgi should offer stiff resistance too.

The double faults can be a real problem for Giorgi and her lack of recent wins was highlighted in the way she got tight when serving out the match in the First Round. However I think Giorgi loves taking on the big names where the expectation is not very high for the Italian and I think she will play with a freedom that makes her very dangerous.

She can keep this competitive against Svitolina who has struggled for 'easy' wins on the grass courts and I will take the games with Giorgi to keep this one close.


Garbine Muguruza - 1.5 games v Alison Riske: Over the years Garbine Muguruza has struggled for consistency on the grass courts, although she is a former Wimbledon Finalist. This year has been one of inconsistency for her too which means there won't be too many people backing Muguruza to have a successful Wimbledon next month.

She had to come through a difficult First Round match and now faces Alison Riske who has previously enjoyed her time on the grass. Riske is an inconsistent character though and can blow hot and cold on any given day.

Riske won a 50k event on the grass and reached the Final in Nottingham in 2016 but at the same time she lost her first matches in Eastbourne and Wimbledon. The American can be tough to stop when she gets on a roll and she does have an underrated serve when she is feeling her tennis and has to believe her best chance of beating a top ten player like Muguruza is on this surface.

Results for the Spaniard have not been very pleasing for Muguruza when you look outside of a couple of tournaments, but I think that might have been factored in too much into this Second Round match. I would still have had Muguruza a stronger favourite than she is with her serve still a big weapon when it is firing.

That hasn't always been the case this year, but Muguruza should have a number of opportunities to get on top of Riske's delivery. That will give her the edge and I like the Spaniard to find her way past Riske with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win.


Coco Vandeweghe + 2.5 games v Johanna Konta: I can understand why the oddsmakers have set Johanna Konta as the favourite in this Second Round match having see the British Number 1 reach the Final in Nottingham last week. It was a much better week than the one Coco Vandeweghe enjoyed when losing in the First Round at Hertogenbosch, although Vandeweghe was a little unfortunate.

Konta had one of her better tournaments on the grass last week, but I remain unconvinced that she is the strongest of players on this surface. The run was a good one in Nottingham and Konta did have some solid wins behind her, but someone like Vandeweghe can really turn the screw on her with the way she has performed on the grass through her recent career.

The big hitting American has the serve and forehand to be a big danger in the Wimbledon draw next month, but the backhand can be a weakness. The key to the match is whether Konta can get the rallies into the backhand as much as possible, while she will also need to serve and return effectively, but the long week last week could play a factor in this one.

I think Vandeweghe can put the pressure on with her serve and I do think the American can potentially earn the upset in this one.

Konta is a very good player and I am a fan, but I want to oppose her where I can on the grass courts over the next few weeks. This looks a chance to do that with Vandeweghe capable of earning the upset outright, but I will at least look for a competitive match that can make these games count.

MY PICKS: Kei Nishikori - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Florian Mayer + 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Marin Cilic - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Feliciano Lopez - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Betway (2 Units)
Camila Giorgi + 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Garbine Muguruza - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
Coco Vandeweghe + 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 8-12, - 8.68 Units (40 Units Staked, - 21.70% Yield)